Join the Melbourne Palm Sunday Walk for Justice for Refugees
Sunday March 25 at 2pm, commencing at the State Library (music from 1.30pm).

The walk will be starting at the State Library and take a route that returns to finish at the State Library.

Confirmed speakers for the event in Melbourne include:

Abdul Aziz Adam live from Manus Island. Aziz is a refugee from Darfur in Sudan and has been imprisoned on Manus for over 4 years.
Taqi Azra – Haraza Refugee and NUW organiser
Tim Costello, Chief Advocate, World Vision Australia
Corinne Grant will be the MC
Music from 1.30pm includes Melbourne Mass Gospel Choir, Yomal, and Strange Tennants
More tba

Across Australia, people from all faith groups, community groups and organisations and unions will join the Palm Sunday actions for Refugees, bringing banners and other messages of support to express their concern about the treatment of refugees and people seeking asylum. In this election year, let’s stand together with refugees.

The Australian Government continues to punish people who sought protection in Australia:
• Thousands of people have been held on Nauru and Manus Island during the last four years, and the deliberate cruelty of the offshore detention regime has resulted in 9 deaths, with many people developing serious mental illness and untold misery and despair
• The men marooned on Manus are fearful for their safety as Australia abandons them in Papua New Guinea
• There are still 160 children held on Nauru, who with their families and other adults are being denied hope for the future
• 242 people have been offered protection by America – but around 1700 remain. No refugees from Iran, Somalia, or Sudan (countries covered by Trump’s travel ban) have been offered places to the US.
• The Australian Government has rejected the offer by New Zealand to provide protection for 150 people per year.
• There are concerns that many people will be pressured to return to unsafe places.
• Over 30,000 refugees are living on Bridging Visas in our community, with their futures in limbo. People are still held in detention here in Australia, many for long periods.
• Many families are separated by our harsh system, and most have no hope of ever being reunited with their loved ones.

Now more than ever Australians of goodwill need to stand together and call for Justice for Refugees. PLAN TO BE THERE. Share this information through your networks, and encourage others to join you on the Walk. You can help to bring about the change we so urgently need to see.

WHAT WE WANT TO SEE FOR REFUGEES AND PEOPLE WHO ARE SEEKING ASYLUM

We are calling on Australia’s political leaders to abandon the current harsh and unjust policies, and to provide permanent protection for these vulnerable people.

We are also calling for truth and respect in the public discourse – Australians are shocked that some politicians show little regard for the truth while pursuing short term political advantage.

Australia IS RESPONSIBLE for these people. Instead of spending millions to prolong their despair, Australia should #BringThemHere and #LetThemStay.